Private Prison Company Cancels Indicted Consultant’s Contract

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Private prison contractor Management & Training Corp. says it has fired a consultant who prosecutors say bribed former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps.

Utah-based MTC announced in a statement Monday that it has canceled its contract with Cecil McCrory of Brandon, a former state lawmaker.

McCrory and Epps were indicted last week in U.S. District Court on charges that McCrory kicked back gains from his own business and consulting work to Epps. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

MTC confirms, as the indictment alleges, that it paid McCrory $12,000 a month and hired him at Epps’ recommendation.

The company runs four Mississippi private prisons on a contract worth $60 million a year. IT says it knew of no wrongdoing and approves of the state’s decision to rebid contracts.